Pleebo City, Maryland County – In a move seen as a step toward mending a strained relationship, Maryland County Superintendent Henry Cole officially inducted the new leadership of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Maryland County Chapter on Monday, September 15, 2025. The ceremony, held at the Pleebo City Hall, brought together local officials and media practitioners, with speakers emphasizing the need for unity and ethical journalism.
The event was graced by notable figures including Pleebo City Mayor Larry Giko (who availed the hall and other facilities at no cost), Pleebo District Superintendent Aloysius Williams, and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights County Coordinator, Boniface Nyemah.
The newly inducted officers are:
- Michael D. K. Wroh – County Coordinator
- Moses Geplay – Assistant Coordinator
- Moses J. Dawoe – Secretary General
- Prosper P. Gray – Financial Secretary
- Patrick Donyen – Assistant Secretary
Keynote Address Emphasizes Ethics
In her keynote address, Mrs. Julia Natt Doe, Administrator of the J.J. Dossen Memorial Hospital, urged the new leadership to maintain unity while upholding journalistic ethics, stating that “bad journalism robs the people of justice.”
She called on the officials to “hold fast to the truth” in their reporting, calling it the hallmark of good journalism. Mrs. Doe also condemned the practice of malicious smear campaigns on social media by individuals posing as journalists and lauded the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) for its recent efforts to regulate the “online TV stations” that have become ubiquitous in Liberia.
Superintendent Extends Olive Branch
Superintendent Henry Cole, who performed the induction, charged the new officials to remain professional and assured the local media that his office is open to inquiries. He also used the opportunity to refute suggestions that he was not “media-friendly.”
The gesture is significant, as Cole’s administration has had a contentious relationship with the local media, marked by a media blockade on his activities for the better part of the last two years.
During the event, Human Rights Coordinator Boniface Nyemah raised concerns about Radio Harper remaining off the air, noting that new equipment was reportedly procured at the end of the George Weah administration and turned over to Superintendent Cole. In response, Cole expressed reservations about the handover details but assured residents that Radio Harper would return to the airwaves “in the near future.”
Controversy and Calls for Unity
The ceremony was not without controversy. Pleebo District Superintendent Aloysious Williams encouraged journalists to be cautious in their reporting, citing the death of ELTV journalist Charles Gbeyon during the failed 1985 coup. According to Williams, Gbeyon “was too hot to go and report the news” about the initial captures by General Quiwonpah’s forces.
Williams’ story, coupled with another remark about the subjugation of Ivoirian journalists to their government, caused a stir among the journalists present, who viewed the comments as threatening. Williams later stated his comments were intended as a joke.
In his induction speech, the new PUL Maryland County Coordinator, Michael D. K. Wroh, called for unity among local journalists to settle lingering differences that have divided the media landscape. He identified this as one of his key priorities and stressed the need for financial support for the union, urging members and media institutions to fulfill their dues and other obligations.
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